Flufftober

Kittens

Hawks had always considered himself more of a bird person. Cats? Not so much. The thought of those little furballs, with their sharp claws and unpredictable behaviour, sent shivers down his spine. Yet, here he was, standing outside a quaint little cat café, arms crossed defensively over his chest. He shot a glance at Dabi, who was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Come on, Hawks! Just give it a chance. They're not all bad!" Dabi urged, his voice a mix of playful challenge and genuine enthusiasm.

Hawks huffed, shuffling his feet. "You know I don't like cats, Dabi. They're... they're sneaky!"

Dabi chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "And birds aren't? Just try it. You might surprise yourself."

With a resigned sigh, Hawks followed Dabi inside. The café was cozy, filled with warm lighting and the soft sounds of purring cats. It was decorated with cat trees and little nooks where the furry residents could lounge, their lazy antics playing out in front of them.

As they walked in, Dabi's attention was instantly captured by a fluffy little kitten tumbling off a shelf, landing in a heap of fur and clumsy limbs. His laughter rang out, a sound Hawks had grown to love, and before he knew it, Dabi was kneeling to scoop the kitten into his arms.

Hawks watched, his initial reluctance melting away as he saw the way Dabi's eyes lit up with joy. The kitten purred loudly, snuggling into Dabi's chest, its tiny paws kneading the fabric of his shirt.

"Look at him! Isn't he adorable?" Dabi beamed, looking up at Hawks, a playful challenge in his eyes.

Hawks couldn't help but smile at the sight. "Yeah, he's cute," he admitted, stepping closer. The warmth radiating from Dabi as he cradled the kitten was comforting, and Hawks felt a strange sense of peace wash over him.

"Just hold him for a second," Dabi coaxed, shifting the kitten toward Hawks. "I promise he won't bite."

Hawks hesitated, staring down at the little creature. It blinked up at him, its blue eyes mirroring Dabi's in a way that made his heart swell. Slowly, he reached out, allowing Dabi to place the kitten in his hands. The softness of the fur and the gentle purring felt oddly comforting, and before he knew it, he was stroking its head, a small smile creeping onto his face.

"There you go! See? Not so scary, right?" Dabi said, grinning widely.

"Okay, maybe not as bad as I thought," Hawks conceded, the kitten nuzzling against his palm. But just as he started to feel relaxed, the little furball jumped, landing directly on his shoulder, claws digging into his shirt.

Hawks yelped, the sound more surprised than terrified, and Dabi burst into laughter. "Told you they're sneaky!"

"Get it off! Get it off!" Hawks flailed, trying to shake the kitten off without causing it any harm. Dabi stepped closer, his laughter ringing in Hawks' ears as he reached up to help.

With a gentle touch, Dabi plucked the kitten off Hawks' shoulder, and the bird hero took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. But as Dabi held the little creature, his expression softened, and Hawks felt a warmth radiate from him that was impossible to ignore.

"You know, you're kind of cute when you're panicking," Dabi teased, his voice low and playful.

Hawks rolled his eyes, though he felt the heat creeping up his neck. "Yeah, well, maybe don't bring me to cat cafés next time?"

Dabi just smirked, clearly enjoying every second of Hawks' embarrassment. "You're warming up to it, though. Admit it. You love the kittens!"

"Fine, they're... tolerable," Hawks grumbled, though he couldn't hide the smile on his face. He watched as Dabi played with the kitten, the two of them perfectly at ease with one another.

As the afternoon wore on, Hawks found himself completely captivated—not just by the kittens, but by the way Dabi radiated happiness in this little haven. He marvelled at how effortlessly Dabi cared for the tiny creatures, a side of him that felt both endearing and mesmerizing.

"Okay, maybe this isn't the worst place in the world," Hawks admitted, watching Dabi coax another kitten to come over.

"That's the spirit!" Dabi exclaimed, leaning in closer, his shoulder brushing against Hawks'. "See? You're adapting!"

"Just don't expect me to adopt one," Hawks warned, though his tone was light, and the smile on his face told a different story.

Dabi leaned closer, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "What if I promised to take care of it? You could be the cool dad who's a bird hero and is secretly a softie for cats."

Hawks laughed, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous. But..." He paused, watching Dabi laugh with a kitten hanging from his sleeve. "Maybe I could consider it if you keep being adorable like this."

Dabi's eyes widened, and he grinned widely, looking smug. "Looks like I've won this round, then."

Hawks rolled his eyes, but his heart swelled as he watched Dabi. Maybe, just maybe, there was something about cats worth embracing after all—especially if it meant seeing Dabi so happy.